Darning attachment for sewing machines



Aug. 7, 1928. 1,679,509

B. D. TAFT v DARNING ATZIACHMENT -FOR SEWING MACHINES Filed Aug. 31, 1925 INVENTOR. 421.: a 771/):

A TTOR-NEY Patented Aug. 7, 1928.

BELLE I). TAFT, OF OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA.

DARNING ATTACHMENT FOR SEWING MACHINES.

Application filed August 31, 1925.

My invention relates to an attachment which will permit of a sewing machine being used for darning, braiding, embroidering and the like.

An object of the invention is to provide an extremely simple device of the character described which may be readily attached to any of the common makes of sewing machine.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device of the character described which may be attached to the sewing machine without the use of screws, or similar fastening means.

The invention possesses other objects and features of advantage, some of which, with the foregoing, will be set forth in the following description of the preferred form of my invention which is illustrated in the drawings accompanying and forming part of the specification. It is to be understood that I do not limit myself to the showing made by the said drawings and description, as I may adopt variations of the preferred form within the scope of my invention as set forth in the claims.

Referring to said drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the attachment;

Figure 2 is side view of a portion of a sewing machine showing my attachment 0peratively positioned thereon.

In the ordinary type of sewing machines, the presser foot normally occupies one of either of two positions, that is, an operatlve position and an inoperative one. In the first, the presser foot is held lowered so. as to engage the cloth and insure its movement during the sewing operation, whereas, in the second, the presser-foot is held elevated so as to permit the free movement and release of the cloth. Furthermore, with the presser foot operatively disposed, suitable means grip the thread so as to insure the advancement thereof during the sewing operation, while when the foot is moved to its elevated position such grip or tension on the thread is released, it being noted, however, that the tension on the thread is arranged not to be effectively released until after the presser foot has been raised a large portion of its permissible upward movement. Practically invariably means are associated Wlt-h the presser foot for causing it to assume either its fully inoperative or its fully operative position so that unless manually held other- Serial No. 53,479.

wise, it will be disposed in either of said positions. Movement of the presser foot from one position to another is usually arranged to be eifected by manual manipulation of a suitable lever.

It will be understood, as above mentioned, that with the presser foot disposed in but a partially elevated position, the material may be released for free movement but the tension on the thread may be maintained. Under such conditions it will be clear, sewing operations, such as darning, braiding, embroidering and the like, may be readily effected. The function, therefore, of my attachment is to hold the pressure foot in such intermediate position, and it is my object, as previously pointed out, to provide such a device which may be quickly attached by even a novice, to any make of machine.

As illustrated in the drawings, the attachment of my invention comprises a rod 3 preferably made of still wire and having formed at the lower end thereof a hook portion 4. The latter is preferably flattened and is adapted for engagement with the lever 6 of the sewing machine, which lever is mounted to move with the presser-foot 7 and by which the movement thereof may be effected. The hook at is arranged to fit under the lever, since the presser foot when disposed in the intermediate position, previously referred to, will, in the ordinary design of machine, have a force exerted thereon tending to force it downwardly.

Means are provided for adjustably and releasably attaching the rod to some portion of the machine so that the rod may hold the lever and consequently the presser foot, in the desired intermediate position. As here shown such means comprises a clamp 12 slidably mounted on the rod and having a noose portion 13 which is arranged to be slipped over and engaged on the presser-foot tension-regulating screw 14 or similarly positioned member of the sewing machine. It

will be noted that while the clamp may read ily slide on the rod, such movement will be prevented when the clamp, as clearly illustrated in Figure 2, is inclined with respect to the longitudinal axis of the rod so that an edge of the clamp will engage the rod.

In the use of my attachment, the hook 4 is slipped under the lever while the noose 13 is slipped over the screw 14. The rod is then drawn upwardly through the clamp until the lever, and correspondingly the presser-foot,

is elevated to the desired intermediate position. The machine may then be used for any of the operations previously mentioned.

To release the attachment, it is merely necessary to slightly elevate the lever so as to disengage the hook and then remove the noose from the screw. If desired, a collar 16 frietionally engaging the rod and made of rubber or other material, may be positioned to lie against the clamp when the latter is operatively disposed. lnthis manner, when the collar is once properly set, the desired positioning of the clamp on the rod for a particular machine, may be readily had and thus the attaching operation considerably facilitated.

I claim:

1. An attachment of the character described comprising a rod having Presserfootengaging means thereon, a clan p slidably mounted thereon and arranged for engagement with a relatively fixed portion of the machine, and a stop member adjust-- BELLE D. TAFT.

day of August, 1925. 

